Burnz' 3 ft planted aquascape

**Burnz** · 5th Mar 2008, 01:27

Originally Posted by Shadow

very nice, though it is a bit too dark. Is it because of the dark background? or not enough flash when taking photo?

Originally Posted by PlAnTaNoOb

Amazing! I think the dark ambience with the spotlight focus effect on the centerpiece's really good! There's this mysterious and gradioso feel to it. Must try that some day.

Hi Shadow/ PlAnTaNoOb

These shots were some of the first attempts to capture the setup. I don't really know the tricks to shoot planted tanks lol ( will do some magazine flipping soon ). The photos presented were taken with the FL light tubes placed at nearer to the front of the tank to illuminate the front half portion of the set-up, leaving the background darker. Also no flash was used.(not even on board flash). Coupled with the black Oyama paper, it probably gave a darker ambience as pointed out. Will definitely try some more shots with varying lighting in the near future.

Any suggestions on how to light the tank for photo shoot? I'm clueless with that, but thanks for the comments

**Burnz** · 5th Mar 2008, 01:35

Originally Posted by williamng

Hi Burnz

A potential ADA winner..Wow, looks calming and the effect is great! I feel that your scape will look nicer with a white/ blue background.

Well done!

Originally Posted by Cpark188

Hi Burnz,

Very impressive scaping, looking at the picture thought was a 4 ft. tank but is a 3 ft. which really give a beautiful scene plus the growth of the healthy plants brighten up the whole tank. Your tank can submit for the ADA 2008 competition as what Zenscape said, we are proud for you and your work, do give a try to win a prize. Cheers.

Originally Posted by Jervis

Maybe can add a dozen more of that orange colour fish... definitely ADA standard!

Originally Posted by uklau

Love the healthy plants

Originally Posted by Salphur

Wow... the scape makes the 3 ft tank look like a 5 footer!
Brilliant!

Cheers!

Originally Posted by aquaman

i love it

Originally Posted by yaya

Agrees with it! Simply a masterpiece of work!. envy.

Originally Posted by sragor

Very nice indeed. Very nice scaping. Cheers!

Originally Posted by eddyq

The plants and woods are well placed and in good harmony. Definitely good looking scape. Look big for a 3 footer and good photograhy too.

Originally Posted by ranmasatome

Woooooooo.... pretty!!!!
except for those balloon-ed fishes...kekeke..

Thanks all for the encouraging comments, much appreciated

-> ranmasatome: Can't do much about the balloon-ed fishes lol. Hard to get them out

**RuiEstrelinha** · 5th Mar 2008, 06:31

Amazing, only one 30w tube, really? All the time?

regards,

**Fei Miao** · 5th Mar 2008, 11:57

I like the dark and mysterious look, the red fishes(cherry barbs?) and the tertas compliments the greens nicely.

**oblivion** · 5th Mar 2008, 21:29

i am absolutely amazed at this... only 30w FL for 6 hours on this???

another question, your substrate is just plain lapis? or with base fert?

**Burnz** · 5th Mar 2008, 23:20

Originally Posted by RuiEstrelinha

Amazing, only one 30w tube, really? All the time?

regards,

Originally Posted by lee1224

i am absolutely amazed at this... only 30w FL for 6 hours on this???

another question, your substrate is just plain lapis? or with base fert?

Ah yes, i only use one FL tube of two all the time. I have observed that using two FL tubes for 6 hrs causes some discoloration to the edges of bolbitis leaves,hence the decision to use one light tube. However, i have reduced the fert dosage accordingly to this rather low light condition. I think the draw back of mild lighting is the absolute slow growth of mosses, but ferns seems to be growing well once they acclimatise.

With regards to the substrate its just Lapis and no base fert. The reason being i have decided to use ferns and mosses to layout when i started. However, i have added some root supplements ( those maize cubes ) to cater for some ground carpet at the sides later in the process.

**FishFan** · 5th Mar 2008, 23:48

Your aquascaping is pretty inspiring. Pretty amazing to have achieved such a scape with only 30W. Great job and thanks for sharing!

**Burnz** · 6th Mar 2008, 09:42

Originally Posted by FishFan

Your aquascaping is pretty inspiring. Pretty amazing to have achieved such a scape with only 30W. Great job and thanks for sharing!

Heh, thanks FishFan. I guess one light tube also help to keep the water temperature managable, around 25 to 26 deg with the help of my DIY fan

cheers,
Burnz,
on a wet thursday morning

**oblivion** · 7th Mar 2008, 00:50

ooh im so jealous just looking at your tank pics
makes me feel like jumping in and starting a similar setup right away!

the lighting part is really giving me something to ponder about
i was originally planning a low tech 3 footer setup with a 70w MH
now i'm REALLY THINKING AGAIN on the choice of lighting

and in my plans i would be using fertile substrate as im intending some crypts at the sides nearer the back where your tenellus is now residing
and now im wondering if the fertile base will screw up the water chemistry abit and hence affect the light requirements

i need to go back to the drawing board

**weiquan** · 12th Mar 2008, 22:07

hi burnsz. i actually have a similar tank like yours setted up for ard 2 mths already which is also a 3 feet tank with majority ferns. im currently using 2 x 39 watts T5 lighting and majority of the top ferns have started to turn brown which is more like drying up rather than rotting.

im goin to take yr advice to reduce my lighting into using onli 1 x 39 watts T5. i hope the drying up will end soon.

lastly, thanks for sharing and you are a great role model for starters like me.

**Burnz** · 13th Mar 2008, 00:33

Originally Posted by chendol23

hi burnsz. i actually have a similar tank like yours setted up for ard 2 mths already which is also a 3 feet tank with majority ferns. im currently using 2 x 39 watts T5 lighting and majority of the top ferns have started to turn brown which is more like drying up rather than rotting.

im goin to take yr advice to reduce my lighting into using onli 1 x 39 watts T5. i hope the drying up will end soon.

lastly, thanks for sharing and you are a great role model for starters like me.

Hi Chendol23, you thought too highly of me lol, but thanks for dropping me a note. To be honest the setup is simple and straight forward, having low maintanance in mind. At the end of the day i am also trying to find and share whats best for my tank. I am just starting to understand water chemistry too you know

Hope your ferns recovers soon enough. Cheers

**Burnz** · 13th Mar 2008, 01:26

Was reflecting on my tank setup and I thought that some qualities were lost as compared to the initial stage. Maybe i'll trim back some of the ferns to reveal more of the hardscape which hopefully will bring more focus to the scape.

*Photo was taken a week after inital setup*